Evaluation period beginning

  • Phil Kornblut
  • Posted: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Monday, March 19, 2012 8:18 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A

With the passing of the Easter holiday weekend, the college football recruiting season for the 2010 class enters its next major phase. This Wednesday thru May 31 is an evaluation period, during which time a school has four weeks to send its coaches on the road. The recruiter is allowed to evaluate a prospect twice during this period — once for athletic purposes and once for academic purposes.

Of course, schools already have made early evaluations on players and handed out dozens of scholarships. Texas, for example, has over 20 commitments. South Carolina picked up its fourth commitment Saturday from QB Connor Shaw (6-2, 198) of Flowery Branch, Ga. Clemson also is holding with four commitments.

In other recruiting news:

Two of the state's top players, both sought by the Gamecocks and Tigers, did not attend either of the spring games Saturday. RB Marcus Lattimore (6-0, 210) of Byrnes stayed home for a family function, and OL A.J. Cann (6-3, 265) of Bamberg-Ehrhardt was in Atlanta to watch Georgia Tech's scrimmage. Cann was joined in Atlanta by his teammate DE Justin Henderson (6-4, 232).

Calhoun County OL Eric Mack (6-4, 310) was at USC's spring game, but earlier in the week he attended a practice at Clemson. "I'm really interested in Clemson," Mack said. "They don't have any left tackles after next season, and I think I can go up there and start." Also last week, Mack visited Georgia Tech and picked up an offer. He also visited Auburn. He does not have favorites at this point.

USC has offered RB Roy Finch (5-8, 170) of Niceville, Fla. He also has offers from Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Oregon, Michigan and Texas A&M. He went to junior days at Florida and Auburn and will go to Alabama's spring game. He also wants to visit USC. Last season Finch rushed for 1,300 yards and scored a total of 22 TDs.

USC is among the favorites of DL DJ McCellion (6-0, 275) of Delray Beach, Fla., along with Miami, Florida, Florida State and South Florida. The Gamecocks have offered along with Central Florida, South Florida, Miami, Minnesota and Kansas. He went to Miami's spring game and plans to be at Florida's this weekend. Last season McCellion had 56 tackles and 9 sacks.

The Gamecocks also have offered DE Tavaris Barnes (6-5, 250) of Jacksonville, a former teammate of USC linebacker Shaq Wilson. Barnes also has offers from West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida State, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers and South Florida. Florida also is showing interest. Last season Barnes totaled 80 tackles with 20 for loss and 6 sacks.

USC recently offered DB Cody Riggs (5-9, 165) of Fort Lauderdale. It joins Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, Rutgers, Connecticut and Purdue on his offer list. Riggs plans to visit Notre Dame this weekend and Ohio State the following weekend for spring games. Last season he had 8 INTs and broke up 25 passes.

Richland Northeast OL CJ Wilson (6-5, 255) attended Clemson's spring game. He recently was offered by S.C. State and he plans to attend its spring game this weekend. He attended junior days at Clemson and USC.

Clemson is looking at sophomore QB Price Litton (6-3, 205) of Charlotte for the 2011 class. "Clemson is looking for an early commitment from a quarterback for the 2011 class because they are not taking one in this class," Litton said. "Coach Napier said I'm one of his top guys. He's going to watch my spring workout." Litton said he'll also go to a Clemson one-day camp this summer. He's also had contact from USC, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and UCLA. Litton was a backup last season to Duke commitment Anthony Boone and transferred to another school since Boone is back this season. He apparently impressed observers at the U.S. Army All American Game combine in January and was named to the All-Combine Team.

USC will get a summer visit from OL Takoby Cofield (6-6, 288) of Tarboro, N.C. He has offers from East Carolina, Duke and Virginia Tech and those are his favorites.

Clemson and USC are among the schools taking a look at athletic QB Gabriel Henderson (6-1, 187) of Raleigh. He has offers from Virginia Tech and Kent State, and a verbal offer from Virginia. Henderson also is hearing from Maryland, N.C. State, Wake Forest and Illinois. He attended one of Clemson's junior days and he plans to see USC over the summer. Last season Henderson passed for over 2,300 yards and 29 touchdowns.

USC is on the offer list of DL Zack McCray (6-4, 240) of Lynchburg, Va. He also has offers from North Carolina, Maryland, N.C. State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, Tennessee, LSU and UCLA. McCray plans to visit LSU during his spring break and will try to stop by USC and Tennessee. Last season he had 87 tackles and 20 sacks.

USC is a strong player with OL David Yankey (6-5, 280) of Roswell, Ga. He has the Gamecocks in his top four with Duke, Florida and Stanford. He attended USC's junior day and was impressed with new line coach Eric Wolford. Yankey also has offers from UCLA, N.C. State, North Carolina, Tennessee and East Carolina.

DL Sharrif Floyd (6-3, 311) of Philadelphia is a USC target and he stopped by last week for a practice during a swing thru the Carolinas. "South Carolina is a good place and I'm going to consider them," said Floyd who also has offers from North Carolina, Syracuse, Rutgers, Penn State, Boston College, UCLA, Stanford, Maryland and Florida International. He also visited Clemson on the trip but because of what he considers young depth at defensive tackle, he's not considering the Tigers. He also visited N.C. State and North Carolina.

DB Brashaud Breeland (6-2, 200) of Allendale-Fairfax also was at USC's practice last Thursday night. He's considering the Gamecocks and Clemson strongly along with Wake Forest, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Michigan and Tennessee.

DL Jibreel Black (6-2, 250) of Cincinnati has offers from USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, West Virginia and NC State. He has visited Kentucky, Indiana and Cincinnati and has plans to visit Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin over the next month. He wants to visit USC during the summer. Last season Black had 73 tackles with 7 sacks.

Clemson and USC have offered DE Garrison Smith (6-3, 250) of Atlanta. He says everyone in the SEC, except Kentucky, has offered, and he also has offers from Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Florida State, Ohio State and Oklahoma. And he's looking for one soon from Southern Cal. He has visited Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama and he wants to visit Clemson and USC. Last season Smith had 108 tackles with 27 for loss and 14 sacks.

OL Kolton Houston (6-5, 270) of Buford, Ga., who held offers from USC and Clemson and several others, committed Saturday to Georgia.